The devices,
claimed to be the first of their type to be integrated in low-cost
silicon, use an active balanced amplifier to split a voltage
controlled oscillator (VCO) signal into an RF output and a local
oscillator (LO) signal.

The reflected
RF signal is mixed with the LO, and since they are derived from
the same source, the mixer downconverts the RF signal to baseband.
The output is proportional to the movement of the target - in
this case displacement due to breathing and heartbeat. The transceivers
detected these vital signs 500mm from the subject.

DNA Sensor
Array Chip

A DNA sensor
array chip based on 0.5pm CMOS, with some extra steps to add
gold electrodes, was presented by German researchers from Infineon
and Siemens, among others.

The active
sensor array is made from pairs of gold electrodes in a circular
compartment, onto which DNA strands with known sequences (probes)
are fixed. A solution of unknown sequence (target) DNA strands
is washed across the chip, and compatible strands bind to the
fixed probes. Unreacted strands are washed off.

After enzyme
labels on the target DNA are chemically converted to charge-carrying
species, potentials are applied to the interleaving electrode
grids.

A pixel circuit
on the 16x8the generator and collector electrodes. The currents
of both electrodes are amplified using dual current irrors in
series with each branch. A dynamic range of five array reads
current from both decades of current is needed.